Hello my name is Josephine Fronda-Samoa but I go by Jojo. I am 15 years old, and born and raised in San Francisco. If you know me, you know I love to dance! Since I was little I have participated in all my school talents show, mainly dancing hip hop (ask my dad he has videos!) . But for the last 4 years I have been passionate about Hula, 'Ori Tahiti (traditional Tahitian dance) and Siva Samoa (traditional dance of Samoa). I began dancing with the dance studio Sparks of Creation and pupu 'ori Te Pura O Te Rahura’a ( dance group) and the Samoan Community Development Center. With Hula/ Tahitian I started in the beginners teen/adult class, the next year moved on to intermediate group and then auditioned and made into the Advanced Senior group for 2025-26.

I am very committed to dance but also put in a lot time to balance school ( 10 grade at Washington High School). I currently dance 4 times a week and working really hard to maintain my grades (A/Bs because my dad wont let me dance if goes bellow that!!!!). Through dance I have become more confident in myself, learned to embrace and celebrate my body and have learned more about my Samoan roots. I have learned that I want to continue dancing and make this part of my college experience. Right now my goals and wishes are to attend the University of Hawai'i or Long Beach State and join a dance group and build a community around Polynesian dance.

As part of the Advance Senior group with Te Pura O Te Rahura’a I have the amazing opportunity to dance in TAHITI FETE HAWAI'I a cultural festival and dance competition as a group and a soloist. I will be participating in my first solo Tahitian competition. I am very excited and nervous at the same time but i feel TAHITI FETE HAWAI'I will be a great start to my solo competition journey. In order to participate in this competition I have been practicing with my pupu "ori every Sunday for 2 hours since November 2025 and I practice daily on my own for my solo competition, in addition to my 4 dance classes. It is a lot of work but I have found my passion !!

In addition to practice and hard work on my part I will need the support from friends and family. This opportunity is crazy amazing but also very expensive. The expenses include, group registration, individual solo registration, costumes (4 costumes for group performance including head pieces), solo costume ( head piece, neck piece and top and bottom) and flight/hotel. My parents are doing their best to help this dream, but I would love and appreciate any other support. My fundraising goals is $3,500. My parents including my mom (Jocelyn) Dad (Joseph) and step mom ( Nancy) say thank you for your support. My step mom ( Nancy) will be received the funds for me since I a minor and then we will put them towards my costumes and other cost for this amazing opportunity for me.